Rideau Hall Ottawa Overview
Rideau Hall Ottawa is a nicely and traditionally decorated mansion that is an executive residence and office of the Governor General of Canada. It deals in all sorts of state affairs. Unlike many states, Rideau Hall Ottawa is not out of the reach of the general public as it is open for visitors throughout the year.
Even if you would like to spend only a few hours to enjoy the beautiful sights at Rideau Hall or you’d like to visit for the whole day; Rideau Hall Ottawa offers wide range of free activities in order to make your time with them an unforgettable one. Moreover, you can bring in your whole family or other loved ones.
Visit: Rideau Hall’s Website
Instructions
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History
Thomas McKay, an affluent Canadian businessman and one of the founders of Ottawa, built a well-designed family home on the outer edge of Ottawa in 1838. This elegantly structured building then became famous with the name of “McKay’s Castle,” among its neighbors.
In 1964, the Canadian Government was in search for a country estate for the governor general in Ottawa. And Rideau Hall was one among the shortlisted buildings and was considered. Although its structure was found inadequate from many angles, but it was leased by the government anyways as an interim headquarters for the Canadian Governor at that time, Lord Monck. However, Monck didn’t like the building as it was quiet small form his perspective and its road was muddy. In spite of Monck’s criticism, Rideau Hall’s structure was improved with the passage of time and was formally accepted as the permanent seat of the state’s governor general.
Over the years, many renovation projects have been carried out by many teams of skillful architects and Rideau Hall has been broadened in overall size and shape.
At present, Rideau Hall’s main building consists of about 175 rooms; covering an area of about 8,825 m². Its main grounds include some 32 hectares and twenty most historic Canadian buildings. Moreover, Canada’s government is determined to continue the improvement project in years to come. -
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Things to See at Rideau Hall Ottawa
- Fabulous sights of 20 most famous and historical buildings around Rideau Hall
- Residence tours, art tours, and garden tours
- Various free outdoor concerts
- Picturesque style of landscape design
- Rose gardens
- Rockeries
- Cricket lawns
- Stands of trees
- Paintings Collection
- Crown Collection
- Magnificent collection of Canadian art and furniture
- Outdoor Skating Rink and many more -
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Tickets and Entry Requirements
The entry into the Rideau Hall Ottawa is Free for everyone. However, reservation is must for the tours. Make sure to reserve tour at least 48 hours in advance. -
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Operational Hours
Rideau Hall Ottawa remains open year-round for tours art-collection and the residence. However, the hours for tours are seasonal. Therefore, call them at the given numbers to know about the exact times. -
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How to Contact
In order find out more or to book a tour, contact Rideau Hall Ottawa at:
Phone Number: +1 613-993-8200
Toll-free (Canada $ U.S.): 1-800-465-6890
Email Address: info@gg.ca
Fax: 613-998-8760 -
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Location
1 Sussex Drive, Ottawa, ON K1A 0A, Canada -
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How to Get to Rideau Hall Ottawa
By Bus:
Sussex / Alexander is the nearest bus station to the Rideau Hall Ottawa. It is hardly 250m away from the hall, making 3 minutes’ walking distance. Once you reach here, head northeast on Sussex Dr toward Alexander St and turn right to stay on Sussex Dr. Now go through a roundabout and take the 2nd exit. Find your destination on right hand side. View Map
